Gasgoo Munich- On February 6, WeRide and Uber announced a strategic partnership expansion. The companies plan to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the Middle East by 2027, targeting three key markets: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh.
Image Source: WeRide
Under the agreement, all 1,200 robotaxis will be integrated into the Uber app for public ride-hailing. WeRide and Uber are already operating fully unmanned commercial services in Abu Dhabi, while public robotaxi services are available in Dubai and Riyadh. Building on this foundation, the partners plan to scale up their fleets. Furthermore, Uber has committed to deploying additional vehicles once key regulatory approvals are secured and operational milestones—such as fully unmanned commercial deployments in city centers—are met.
The move follows an initial expansion announced in May 2025, when the companies outlined plans to bring robotaxi services to 15 new international cities over five years, spanning markets in Europe and the Middle East.
According to the companies, this deepened partnership signals an acceleration of their previously announced goal to launch services in 15 new cities within five years. Services have already launched in three cities, with the remaining 12 set to come online by 2030.
Operationally, the expansion leverages WeRide's asset-light model: Uber or local third-party partners will manage fleet operations, while WeRide supplies the autonomous driving technology and expertise for large-scale deployment. WeRide currently has more than 200 robotaxis deployed across the Middle East.
In terms of performance, WeRide's fully unmanned robotaxis in Abu Dhabi are completing dozens of daily orders per vehicle. Expanding the fleet to 1,200 units will further cement WeRide's dominant position in the Middle East market. Supported by a growing ecosystem of regional partners, the company aims to drive the region's transition toward fully automated urban mobility. Notably, WeRide's Middle East subsidiary achieved operating profitability for its robotaxi business in 2025.
